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Earlier today, “New” Mets Manager Jerry Manuel made his final weekly appearance of the season on WFAN’s afternoon show, Mike’d Up.
In case you missed it, here are a few highlights:
- Manuel does not believe there is a leadership problem nor a cultural or ethnic divide in the clubhouse.
- He said the team will need continue to deal with their September issues until the team breaks through. Manuel believes this will strengthen the team once they make the postseason.
- Manuel was bothered by the team’s poor play the last week of the season.
- He believes his players need to play more team oriented baseball in order for them to be successful.
- Manuel said he should have entrusted more of the other pitchers he had available in the bullpen.
- When discussing the evaluation of his coaches for next season, Manuel stopped short of endorsing Luis Aguayo as the team’s third base coach.
- Manuel will not ‘count out’ Luis Castillo as the team’s second basemen next season.
- He would like to find an everyday position for Daniel Murphy next season.
- Manuel praised an injured Johan Santana for performing under the pressure of a pennant race in New York.
- When asked to describe a team managed by Jerry Manuel, he answered his team is one that “understands the situation, rhythm and flow of the game” and is committed to winning. Manuel singled out Jose Reyes as taking steps in that direction, as evident by stealing bases in more opportune times.
- Manuel was non-committal when asked if the recent criticism towards David Wright and Jose Reyes was warranted, but believes if it is, it can be used as learning tool for their future progression.
To listen to the interview in it’s entirety, go to WFAN.com.
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If they bring back Castillo you might as well not watch next season b/c it is guaranteed they will not make the playoffs.
luis aguayo better be gone.
here’s a great position for Murph: 1B !!!!
Santana is a hero, even before we new he was hurt.
the idea of replacing a 38 HR 115 ribi with an inexperience daniel murphy is just silly, i could see you saying left field or second base, but 1st base? THINK MAN!
you aren’t replacing delgado’s production. you are trading it for pitching, and defense, by signing O-Dog. Better pitching and defense while having two more 300 hitters to your infield will more than make up for the RBI.
This team without Delgado and with Hudson and Murph on the right of the infield will not score as many runs, but would win more games.
Good points.
I’m looking forward to next season so this MetsyMad22 guy isn’t posting here anymore. I mean, they weren’t here through the season, so i’d imagine that should hold true next year!
You know what would have been a smart move by Manuel.
Saying that he has no intention of playing a guy with three years remaining on his contract.
I will be surprised if Castillo arrives to spring training with the Mets.
Who is going to trade anything of value that can make an immediate impact for Delgado? I just don’t see a market for this guy. He turned it around last year, but he is another year older.
So where does pitching come into that? Are you trading Delgado for pitching?
You are going to pay Delgado 4 million to leave and replace his production with a rookie and a guy who wants Utley type money with this production. 8 HR, 54 Runs 41RBI??? Why?
Rogasm, we would get some value as his contract would be decently cheap and short term. However, for those same reasons he is more valuable to us.
You don’t think some team is going to want Delgado and his production even at his age? Look at Jim Thome and Frank Thomas.
If and I mean if Mets can trade Delgado to the AL where he can be a productive DH there, I think the return will be good instead of trading Delgado in the NL, where I don’t think the Mets get as much back and plus, I bet there would be more than a few times in so Mets can get back a few good prospects plus a ML player or two.
i think Minaya is thinking of that, because they’re playing Murphy at 1B in the instructional league, and if we get a quality pitcher for Delgado i’ll pull the trigger (i don’t see Delgado putting those numbers again, he was just looking he’s option to be picked up), Delgado was Huge, but if we get the Byrnes for Castillo Trade, sign Hudson and Trade Delgado for a Pitcher we’re much better……………………..and of course change almost de hole bullpen
I sure hope dan murphy can some how learn to play 2nd base in a couple of months.
That ain’t happening. I don’t think he’s quick enough and can cover enough ground. Besides, he’s listed on the Arizona Fall League roster as a 1st baseman.
I’d like us to get Orlando Hudson to play second.
is hudson a type A or B free agent? bc I think we can only sign 2 and krod and lowe are way more important to our needs especially if we dont resign perez.
type A…..i prefer Maine to close, so that’s where I’m coming from.
Maine won’t close
You prefer a guy having shoulder surgery to close. Good.
Not to mention that you then need to sign another SP. We already have 2 holes and you create another by puting a question mark as closer.
If you go out right now and get 2 starters and a closer then if Maine fails you can slip Niese into his spot. If you move Maine down then you HAVE to start Niese and that could be Pelfrey all over again.
Yeah. Murph at second.
I’d love to see Murphy at second, but the word “fast” or “quick” does not come to mind when envisioning him.
the idea of him and delgado on the right side of the infield, with David’s arm and Jose’s brain thrown in, it could be a frustrating year.
Most Mets fans have become $uckerz for the big splash, homerun hitting free agent. It’s sad b/c these Yankees-esque made teams never win it all. The Mets need more all around ball players. Please no Manny, trade Delgado, no Burrell, no more Pedro and Castillo.
I’d love to see a team that is based around defense, speed, pitching, and situational hitting. If that means less runs scored, less homeruns, less crazy stat lines, FINE. the wins will make up for it.
Yes, because Beltran, Reyes, Wright and Church are terrible defenders.
Injured Santana? What did I miss?
he pitched all season with a bad knee and had surgery last week
Santana had a torn meniscus the last month of the season, and had arthroscopic surgery last week….pretty unbelievable what he accomplished with this injury (and our bullpen!)
This guy is a warrior, as much as a baseball player can be considered one, and Omar should be praised for getting this absolutely amazing player.
yep…….it is so sad that guys like aaron heilman, luis castillo, scott schowenweiss, luis ayala, etc cost him a post season chance.
I totally agree….but considering what Santana did this year with probably at least 6 wins blown for him, and his knee the last month, we could see a performance like Seaver in 1969 and Gooden in 1985 from him next year….imagine if we fix the bullpen and give him 9 runs a game like we gave Steve Trachsel in 2006—Johan could win 25-plus!
I am already looking forward to 2009, as we have the best pitcher in baseball to anchor the team.
Luis Ayala had a better save pct with the New York Mets this season than Billy Wagner.
You are on a roll Mad22
I think we need to sign Manny. He will relief stress for reyes and wright, and the man is total clutch. As far as personality is concerned I think he will like the mets. I think he could like a manager who refers clutch as gangsta. If no, please give me reasons. I don’t like people to just say no without a valid excuse.
we also need to trade Evans for one good bullpen arm. I think thats fair market value.
evans can’t get you a bullpen arm.
manny is expensive, and a luxury. we need pitching more than anything.
manny is OLD. havent u seen enough retirement players coming to the Mets? I’veread that book before.
I agree we need pitching, but we need somone whos clutch at the plate as well. Keith Hernandez and Gary carter were considered old veterans but they worked out. sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.
Do you know how old Keith and Garry were when the CAME to the Mets?
manny wouldve been perfect for us to trade for at the deadline, even with the bullpen i guarantee if we got manny we’re talking right now about the nlcs. unfortunately manny over 3-4 years is scary and since you can only sign so many Type A free agents i think we should look toward krod and lowe who both fill much bigger vacancies for us.
dude im so with you on this. i really think we should have tried to be the 3rd team in the bay to the pirates manny to us…..then i woulda let him walk and taken the picks.
Would not have gotten the picks. Part of the deal was they could not offer arbitration to him.
Metsy, I generally agree after Pedro, Alou, El Puque, etc, that we need to stay away from the aging vets after their last big contract…but Manny is 36, seemingly healthy, and maybe he is thinking about his place in history….
He was on both of the Indians’ World Series teams, won two rings in Boston, and has already led the Dodgers to the NLCS…if he comes home to NY and leads the Mets to a title, he seriously would be considered one of not only the greatest statistical players of all time, but as one of the all time winners/leaders as well. He would be looked at as like a cross between Hank Aaron and Reggie Jackson, even more than he already is….
I was against Manny before, but if we give him 3 or 4 years at $20 mil per, and we win one title, might it not be worth it?
Though I do agree a championship would be nice, there’s something about stocking the team with a big-name player whose only purpose is to win a chamionship that I don’t like. I rather win or lose with the core group of guys we have now, and patch up the bullpen, rotation, 2nd and LF with solid players who we look to keep for a while. Maybe I’m not expressing myself correctly, but it does seem a bit too Yankee-esque, too short-run-oriented, to just buy the biggest name available.
Although, I wouldn’t be entirely opposed to getting Manny if we let Delgado go, and/or re-signed him and traded him for youth. In that case, Manny could be our designated clean-up bat, no questions asked, and less of a risk than Delgado, who may or may not produce like the past few months.
To add on to my last comment, I feel that Manny would have more of a purpose on the team as ‘Clean Up Hitter’ if Delgado were let go. Otherwise, I simply see him as, someone above me said, a luxury player with no place on the t-e-a-m, even if he would make the team better.
Ya follow?
I really do agree with your sentiment, and love the idea of Wright, Reyes, and Big Pelf, with FMart and Smith and Murph and hopefully Evans and Carp and Niese and others on the horizon.
I guess I am thinking (perhaps naively) that Manny could maybe be an exception and maybe be THAT piece that we need, to get the “clutch” hits, and take the incredible pressure off of Wright. Some folks forget how young–and how great–Wright is, and with Manny here, everyone else could relax, as he has done it before, several times. Also, the 1986 team was filled with homegrown talent (as we are now, with Reyes, Wright, Pelfrey, Murphy, Smith, and hopefully FMart, Niese and more), and maybe adding Manny can be the final piece after Saint Johan. The 86 team had homegrown folks all over, but Ojeda, Keith, and Carter were the final pieces.
As a 42-year old who grew up with the horrors of 1977–1983 (well, except for Mazzilli and Kingman) and worships the 1986 team, maybe Manny could be the Hernandez/Carter for this group.
I know Manny is not like Keith, but maybe his presence, incredible offensive abilities, and amazing resume as a winner could be the mysterious and elusive “final piece” that we need.
I guess after 10 days away, I am ready for 2009 already!
I agree with you completely. If you saw my amended comment underneath my first one, I said that I think Manny would have much more of a purpose on the Mets if Delgado were traded. In that case, he could be THE Clean Up Hitter, and unless he gets injured that’d be his role on the Mets, no questions asked. Otherwise, I feel that acquiring him would be all show and not for the betterment of the team (even if it inversely makes the team better).
Yes, I agree. I think we got very fortunate with Delgado’s resurgence, and if we get Manny, Carlos goes, after being thanked for his excellence the second half. Delgado could seriously decline this year, and I must admit, I am not sure he is the best veteran leader/presence for this team. Manny, despite his baggage, has a resume of being a part of MANY winning teams that Delgado does not.
Also, let’s remember that Pedro came here with a dramatically exaggerated reputation as a potentially bad clubhouse presence, which was tremendously exaggerated–if not totally made up–by the Boston media.
Right. The only problem with acquiring Manny is that there is much less room to improve the BP. Just thinking out loud–I guess we could use Delgado in a trade for some arms, same goes for Heilman, Show, Castillo, and anyone else we want to get rid of–and still have enough to pick up K-Rod too.
Jesus, that’d be a hell of a team. But it still begs the question, who will play 2nd?
C-Schneider/Castro
1b-Murphy
2nd-?
SS-Reyes
3B-Wright
CF-Beltran
LF-Manny
RF-Church
Well, I guess I think that improving the bullpen can cost much, much less than a piece like Manny. I am thinking of past guys like Roberto Hernandez, Chad Bradford, Darren Oliver, etc, guys who maybe can be found and cost a fraction of what KRod would cost.
And if Murphy can play 2nd, maybe Tatis and Nick Evans can play 1st…Evans was originally a 1st baseman in the minors, and, statistically, got much better each year.
Reyes
Murphy
Beltran
Manny
Wright
Church
Tatis/Evans
Schneider
Wow, how about that lineup, with a hopeful fantasy of Omar finding a Chad Bradford and a Darren Oliver. Yes, the closer question is a VERY important unresolved question here, but I think a long-term deal for KRod might not be the answer. I am just not sure on closer, but I like the above VERY much.
If we solve the rest of the problems, let’s let Omar figure out the closer issue!!
I’m closer to the “get Manny” bandwagon.
He’s maybe the only player who can take pressure off the core and show them how to win.
Like he’s doing in LA.
I can’t believe I am saying this but I agree with you furioso…We have a great line-up, I believe we were 2nd in the NL in runs scored but our RISP numbers were absolutely atrocious. If we got a guy like Manny this team would have blown the rest of the league away in runs scored and would take so much pressure off of the other parts of this team.
Manny is not a luxury. Having a mashing LF is not a luxury on a winning team. Braun, Burrell, Soriano, Manny, Bay, Crawford, Quentin, any coincidence that all the playoff teams have a really good offensive production out of LF? I would absolutely sign Manny.
Stay with us, morning will come!
“Manuel said he should have entrusted more of the other pitchers he had available in the bullpen.”
ya think?
you had about 20 pitchers down there during september and kept trotting out the same 3-4 train wrecks every night!
that is not what he meant…He meant instead of putting a guy in and seeing him give up a hit and taking him out immediately he would have left him in.
I think the point is he kind of made the bullpen feel like you come in, you have to 100% perfect from the start or you are out of the game.
BTW not getting on you. I may have not heard this part of the interview but I did hear him say that he shouldn’t have had such a short hook with guys.
manny in left
murphy at 2nd
krod closing
trade for a set up man
They won’t sign two type A free agents.
Pending on Delgado they might. But if they keep Delgado then they are more likely to sign one and trade for another top guy.
This interview didn’t instill a lot of confidence I have (or don’t have) in Manuel. Some of the things he says just don’t make a lot of sense. Other things he said were predictable (there no lack of leadership on the team - I mean, what did you expect him to say? The truth?).
So he was bothered by the team’s poor play? Gee Jerry, very astute of you to notice.
The team needs to play more “team-oriented ball”? This is not basketball Jerry, it’s baseball. It’s about talent, desire and execution, not “team-oriented baseball.” What does that even mean in the context of baseball and how to you instill that? Ugh.
I could go on and on, but I think I’ve made my point. Jerry’s beginning to sound to me like the Sarah Palin (with Dr. Hibbert’s laugh) of major league baseball managers.
by team oriented ball he means instead of David Wright trying to jack a HR when Murphy is on 3rd base w/ no outs and the team needs 1 run to win the game. He will be looking to be sure to put the ball in play, shorten his swing.
Manuel said he should have entrusted more of the other pitchers he had available in the bullpen.
——
Hindsight is always 20/20, isn’t it? No guarantee that those less/not used would have been any better, but man…..they certainly couldn’t have been any worse.
No. 1 priority: get a REAL closer and a decent BP.
i just love what i saw from Texeria in this Red Sox series. Patience and intelligence at the plate … I hope we get him … though I have no faith in our current GM to make the right moves.
Manuel does not believe there is a leadership problem nor a cultural or ethnic divide in the clubhouse.
>> Softpeddling for the radio. THERE IS NO LEADERSHIP
He said the team will need continue to deal with their September issues until the team breaks through. Manuel believes this will strengthen the team once they make the postseason.
>> I heard the same sh*t last year.
Manuel was bothered by the team’s poor play the last week of the season.
>> Guess he was the only one then
He believes his players need to play more team oriented baseball in order for them to be successful.
>> On board. Or they can just grow a set
Manuel said he should have entrusted more of the other pitchers he had available in the bullpen.
>> No, running Heilman out ad nauseum was the right play dude
When discussing the evaluation of his coaches for next season, Manuel stopped short of endorsing Luis Aguayo as the team’s third base coach.
>> HEH. Buh-bye Luis
Manuel will not ‘count out’ Luis Castillo as the team’s second basemen next season.
>> Helping Omar keep that minimal trade value up
He would like to find an everyday position for Daniel Murphy next season.
>>+1
Manuel praised an injured Johan Santana for performing under the pressure of a pennant race in New York.
>> +1
When asked to describe a team managed by Jerry Manuel, he answered his team is one that “understands the situation, rhythm and flow of the game” and is committed to winning.
>> Believe it when I see it. This is a stupid team as well as gutless
Manuel singled out Jose Reyes as taking steps in that direction, as evident by stealing bases in more opportune times.
>>Um…..how about that Sept. he had? Eeesh
Manuel was non-committal when asked if the recent criticism towards David Wright and Jose Reyes was warranted, but believes if it is, it can be used as learning tool for their future progression.
>> 3rd year in a row for them to learn. Do they take the f**king short bus? Cuz they’re SLOW learners.
I’ll just say it - I have no faith in the manager or GM. Whatever Omar does is going to be wrong
Excellent job. You took the time to do what I was too lazy to do. I agree. I have little faith in Manuel notwithstanding the team’s records after Willie was fired. I do have, however, a little more confidence in Omar, but I would not have given him that extension until he showed me what he could do over the next year.
I hope they prove us wrong.
my feelings as well, Slider……
Thank god Jerry didn’t endorse Luis Aguayo. As far as I’m concerned, he should be sent back to AA Binghamton to sell ice cream and pretzels during games.
There’s a reason he was supposed to be the bench coach. But Manuel recognized 3B talent where he saw it.
You say the team cares, ok but they MUST import a guy who’s idea of caring isn’t to squeeze the bat to sawdust, or to mindlessly try to hit 5-run HRs when a simple fly ball will do.
There is not a player in baseball who would not press knowing that ahead by a run, tied or down by a run that this is what was awaiting them in the field.
Schoenwiess, Heilman, Sanchez, Feliciano.
By the latter part of August the Mets had turned to Brian Stokes and Luis Ayala for their 8th inning and closer.
I think Orlando Hudson is a good step in the Keith/Carter vein. Like him or not, everyone he has ever played with says he’s an amazing leader and clubhouse presence. I dont care what the haters say, THAT IS IMPORTANT. The bullpen will get fixed. I truly feel that Delgado can net us a setup man. We can sign KRod. Or we can sign Lowe, keep Ollie, and let Maine close. But the team can’t just be what it is plus KRod. If anything they need new guys who haven’t been effected by this collapse.
Did you say sign KRod and Maine be our closer?????
No, Krod OR Maine, depending on where they chose to spend the type As.
You guys on the Hudson wagon are insane. I understand the value of leadership but this guy is Roberto Alomar waiting to happen. He just injured his wrist again and still wantls 12-15 million for 4-6 years. His production is decent for a 2B but not for that type money. 8 HR, 54 Runs, 41 RBI. Again, nice but not worth 15 million when we have so many pitching holes and in LF.
To listen to the interview in it’s entirety, go to WFAN.com.
Hmmm….Nichols…here’s a lesson for you:
It’s is the contraction for it is..
so you should have written: To listen to the interview in ITS entirety, …
Where did you go to school??????????
Try not to use contractions since you obviously don’t understand them.
I’ll say this, Mike Francessa is a good interviewer. he’s got skillz in that department.
Maine as closer? ya and if that doesnt work we are back to where we were this year with no closer..Krod is a must above manny or anyone else u could think of
Cina, I agree with you, but be careful, MetsyMad will question your fandom for disagreeing with him!
the closer needs to be addressed but Francisco Rodriquez is not the answer.
I do not want a guy who is a afraid to throw his fastball.
KRod makes me nervous too….but at the same time, Maine is not the answer either…
I really don’t understand the lovefest people are having over KRod. He really lets way too many baserunners on in too few innings. I don’t want to pay a truck-load of money for more Benitez saves.
His ‘violent motion’, or whatever, isn’t something that concerns me, I just don’t think he’s good enough to demand $15-20M/yr. Seriously, give me Fuentes at a shorter more reasonable contract as a bridge to when Kunz is ready in a couple years (making the a$sumption that he’s going to be a major league caliber closer at some point).
Fuentes wants 3 years 38 million. Come on the guy is terrible. There are plenty of guys out there that could give his numbers if given the chance. Even the Rockies demoted him to setup man twice.
If you don’t want Krod then go get Juan Cruz and Everday Eddie for less money combined.
I was just using Fuentes as an example. You’re right though, there are plenty of good arms to get fairly cheap.
I really like the idea of Eddie and Cruz. Eddie has Closer experience and Cruz has closer stuff.
Also, why is the comment filter on here so strict? Why should I have to type as$upmtion instead of using the proper characters? Why do we have to be so puritanical about speech that we have to alter how we spell non-curse words?! Ugh, that’s a rant for another time and place, I guess.
I’d rather the Mets stay low profile and get Fuentes in the bullpen. The last thing this team needs is to sign KRod and Manny and be called the frontrunners in the East again. I’d much rather be the underdogs going into the season!
Fuentes is going to really cash out because of Krod and the lack of closers on the market. Stay away. He is not worth the 13 million a year he is seeking.
Get Krod or go cheap with Everyday Eddie AND Juan Cruz and go with the double headed closer.
Bullpen
Everday Eddie
Juan Cruz
Parnell
Stokes
Ayala
Smith
Darren Oliver
That is a decent looking pen. You only have 1 specialist in Smith on the entire team. Something that cost us this season. Play the Phillies and Utley and Howard come up in the 8th inning then Eddie comes in and Cruz closes the 9th.
Sign Everday Eddie. 3 years 10 million
Sign Juan Cruz 4 years 12 million
Sign Manny and Lowe?
I am still not sold on Manny for 3 years. Obviously I would love his bat in the lineup but is it worth it for the potential same thing happening that always happens to the Mets. Do we really want to go down that road again?
I think I would rather trade for Holliday and sign Lowe and Garland.
“I think I would rather trade for Holliday and sign Lowe and Garland.”
I also think the right path is trading for Holliday and signing Lowe. I am not too high on Garland, but he might be needed since Niese would probably go in the deal for Holliday. A package of FMart, Heilman, and Niese could get you Holliday and I would do it in a second. FMart will not be able to seriously contribute until 2011, if ever. We need to win now. Why not get an all-star LF to plug into the middle of our lineup.
Obviously, bullpen is number one objective, but that was my plan for LF and SP.
METSYMAD, IS THAT 22 A REFLECTION OF YR AGE? YOUR SUM TOTAL IQ? DID U SLEEP THROUGH ‘05? BASICLY, ARE U KIDDING? DO U WATCH GAMES OR JUST READ BOXSCORES? IF METS REPL DELGADO, IT BETTER BE WITH TEIXEIRA OR FIELDER OR HOWARD. THERE ISN’T A CLEANUP HITTER ON THE ENTIRE ROSTER. MURPHY? OTHER THAN KNOWING HE PLAYED SOME 1B IN MILB, HE WASN’T EVEN THE BEST 1B IN BINGHAMTON; BUT U WANT HIM IN FLUSHING? ARE U EVEN AWARE ENOUGH TO REMEMBER NAMES LIKE: MIKE VAIL, TIMO PEREZ, BUTCH HUSKEY, BENNY AGBAYANI? THAT’S JUST IN FLUSHING FLASHES IN SEPT.. THERE’S COUNTLESS OTHERS THROUGHOUT BASEBALL.
LOL, you don’t respond to a child by yelling at them.
Who the freak is “Everyday Eddie”?
Guardado
I’m a$ s$suming Eddie Guardardo (sp?). ALthough I thought he was pretty much washed up, and either got released or traded for a bag of used chewing gum last year?
I personally like the idea of stoking up with a few younger guys with big arms (guess that would be the Juan Cruz types) and building around that, instead of 15 million for the next 5 years for 1 guy.
They need, unfortunately, way more than one arm in the pen.
Now, Fuentes for more reasonable terms (length/money) doesn’t sound bad, if they also can add a few young power arms.
The logic to that is, Fuentes can take the job to start, and if one of the young guns takes it away (or he falters), he can always bump back down to a set up man again.
So, IMO, Cruz/Fuentes + a couple out of the stokes/ayala/parnell/Kunz poo poo platter gives a decent base. Add Smith, and maybe a true long man (which could be stokes) and it is already potentially way better than last year. And not loaded with specialists.
1 more true power arm (maybe a future closer type) would really ice the cake.
Besides, if Fuentes and Cruz are your main 8/9 inning guys, the rest are bridge dudes and fill ins for when the main guys need a rest.
although don’t count out a dark horse like Parnell landing the closer role. That would be the definition of “creative”
I think a 5 year K-Rod deal will look a lot like the 4 year Wagner deal:
1. Good
2. OK
3. Why did we sign this guy
4. Out for year
5. Can he pitch again
Or even the Pedro deal.
the love affair with krod is his 62 saves to our combined 43 and with all the blown saves this year he could be our johan in the bullpen